Sebastian Vettel turns heads in eye-catching Miami GP stunt
Sebastian Vettel has become the talk of the town ahead of the Miami Grand Prix after making a bold fashion statement before the historic event.
Hype has been building around the GP as the F1 visits Florida for the first time in 22 years this weekend with 80,000 fans, including a number of high-profile celebrities, set to attend.
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Pre-sale tickets sold out in less than 40 minutes, which was extraordinary considering the cheapest were going for around $900.
The Miami International Autodrome was created to replace the Hard Rock Stadium carpark, which was not the original concept planned by the F1 who had hoped the race would take place near the water.
Despite this, a fake marina was bizarrely included in the infield section of the track, leading to endless mockery from motorsport fans on social media.
Me after paying $2,000 for a standing ticket #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/wGQqhV5bQs
— Matt Amys (@mattamys) May 2, 2022
This will be my first and last tweet about F1 in Miami. This sucks, on multiple levels. pic.twitter.com/w9bjvZiL3g
— J. Cobb! (@The_J_Cobb) May 2, 2022
Weighing into the conversation around the fake water, Vettel decided to wear a t-shirt at a pre-race event to suggest that the track might be under real water if the world doesn't act on climate change.
Vettel's t-shirt, which he wore to the opening party for the Grand Prix, contained the message: “Miami 2060. 1st Grand Prix under water. Act now or swim later.”
The shirt featured an image of a driver’s helmet underwater with a snorkel coming out the side.
The four-time world champion often speaks out about environmental issues and was no doubt alluding to the fact that Miami is vulnerable to rising sea levels.
Unsurprisingly, the German's Miami GP stunt grabbed plenty of headlines, with fans applauding him for taking a stand on climate action.
"Act now or swim later" 🤿
Sebastian Vettel wore a t-shirt warning that Miami could be the first Grand Prix underwater if more isn't done to combat climate change. pic.twitter.com/Vhobc7Sbin— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) May 5, 2022
This is another man willing to make a stand. Vettel’s T-shirt is 💚💚💚💚 #F1. https://t.co/yWkGjTU8oS
— Jennie Gow (@JennieGow) May 5, 2022
incredible scenes that Seb wore this to the opening party (and fair play to Aston Martin for letting him) pic.twitter.com/V2jSJ5dPSv
— Hazel Southwell (@HSouthwellFE) May 5, 2022
Sebastian Vettel weighing up future
Vettel admits he's contemplating his future in the sport, with his Aston Martin car failing to challenge the likes of former teams Ferrari and Red Bull after a disappointing start to the 2022 campaign.
The 34-year-old last won a race in Singapore in 2019 and has just four points after missing the first two races of this season after contracting Covid-19.
He didn't finish in Australia but came eighth in Imola two weeks ago.
Vettel, who joined Aston Martin in 2021, has a deal which expires at the end of the current campaign and with the 34-year-old taking an ever increasing interest in environmental and social issues, life after racing is being considered.
The Aston Martin racer, however, isn't prone to panic and certainly won't worry about what lies ahead, both on and off the track.
"I'm interested in winning," Vettel said.
"I haven't made a decision yet about my future but I have been spoiled because I was at the front and I know how it is, and it feels amazing.
"As a team, it's not a secret, we wanted to be at the front, but are now at the back. We're working very, very hard.
"It's just at the back of the field, you have no reward.
"I didn't mind when I started but finishing outside of the top 10 isn't what I am here for. I want to win."
with agencies
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